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There is an anecdote that states that if you are a football player who wants a long career, be a left back. Indeed, at the time the striker, midfielder, winger or gain a lot of praise for individual action, a fullback can rarely spotlight.

However, lack of players capable of filling this post makes more fullback provide opportunities for footballers who want to play certainty.

Although only anecdotal, stories about the scarcity of players with a dominant left foot that can last not new anymore. Let’s see Brendan Rodgers who prefer to put Glen Johnson (right defender) or Daniel Agger (center back) when Jose Enrique could not compete. Or, how Philipp Lahm is often used as a left back before David Alaba pulled from midfield by Jupp Heynckes.

So if it is almost 10 years the name Ashley Cole remains so answers to the question who the best left back in the world today, in fact it is not unusual anymore.

So what exactly is causing the scarcity of players left back in the world of football? The answer is simple. Number of left-footed players are much less dominant, so capable, or choose to be left, it would be much more minimal again.

Unmitigated, the comparison between the number of dominant players left leg with the player “legged” right can reach 1 to 4. This is evident from a study of 236 players who competed in the 1998 World Cup. This study states that 79% of footballers in the tournament often using the right foot in receiving and giving feedback. Meanwhile, only 21% are fluent in the left leg.

Similar studies give different figures. However, the average stated that the number of left-footed players less than 30% of the overall total footballers.

The small number of left-footed players, according to Gianluca Vialli, so one of the causes of the paradigm that the right-back will be the worst player on the team is filled.

This analogy: if a footballer has a good ability to survive and height above the average, so it will be positioned as a central defender. While those who have qualified technical control of the ball will be placed as a midfielder.

Then the remaining players, skill players survive and attack him mediocre, often installed as a right-back. Left footed players certainly different. He will be given special treatment because their numbers are small.

Fullback and Modern Football

Regardless of the number of players is minimal problems, left-back role in the evolution of modern football itself can not be separated from nature as a fullback. Also can not drop out of relation to other positions in the team, as well as the development of today’s tactical.

For example, on a game that gets narrowed to the middle of the field along with the popularity of the use of a 4-2-3-1 formation. With this trend, the fullback position so most get room to run, while the other players piled in the middle of the field. Being a fullback duties for “down-up” and so outlets assault, as well as widen the space game.

It mainly occurs in teams using inverted-winger role as one of the strategies in the attack. Moving winger cut into the penalty area he will be more effective when combined with a fullback to create a 2 against 1 situation with fullback opponent.
Illustration that describes this is the first season Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

By bringing Dani Alves from Sevilla, Pep makes Lionel Messi-Alves combinations as the main pedestal Blaugrana attack. Messi, who ran into the piercing, and Alves who kept vigil near the touchline, often confuse fullback who were escorting them. Following Messi moved into the means providing space for Alves to launch cross.

While still on guard at the edge of the field means letting Messi kicks the strongest leg, the left leg. Nearest central defender did not move too freely to the fore, because it can be used by cutting edge or playmaker pushed up into the penalty box.

In this way, Alves recorded assists 10 times (some of which are key-assist: the creator of the first goal or assists the winning goal), and so one of the best players in the Barca the season.

This method is also used by Del Bosque later when Spain lost her mind to break the opponent’s goal. Jesus Navas is often put into the field to draw the fullback opponent so there is a gap for Iniesta to send feedback breakthrough.

Yes, in contrast to the winger who often get feedback in the opponent’s defense area, often “run” by itself does not lead to full-back control of the ball for himself. Running is not selfish. But the run is important for two things: to create a space for the winger, as well as to be a decoy for the purpose midfielder, winger, or even a keeper though.

Being Fit and Smart

Interesting implications of the development of the fullback role, in addition to left and right are required to have a capable passing ability, is the physical condition of the players.

By becoming an outlet assault, and with having the longest running space, automatic fullback who now assumed the role as player box-to-box. It is they who must now get used to sprinting, both in the short and long distances.

Therefore, the fullback is expected to have a higher fitness level than other players. Physical endurance to sprint to pursue the enemy, often from the opponent’s defense into his own goal line, in the final minutes of the match would be a crucial factor that must be owned by a fullback.

If a striker can still laze around when his physical condition declined in one game, this luxury is not obtained by the fullback. Mainly because there is space left by fullback when he rose to help the attack.

So do not be surprised if in a practice session, fullback get more run portion. Sessions usually run from one end to the other corner flag.

In addition to fitness, one of the other capabilities that are required of both right-and left-back is the ability to recognize how a midfielder or winger in the team wants to play. Listen to Glen Johnson’s narrative about his relationship with the other players at Liverpool in the season 2008/2009:

“If I play with Maxi Rodriguez or Dirk Kuyt, I knew I could run attack anytime.’s Because they will be cutting inside and give me space, while also providing assistance to survive. But Ryan Babel more often dribbling and using wing area field, so the task I prefer to help him, “said Johnson told Four Four Two magazine.

Difficult to replace

Associated with the development of a more attacking role so here’s fullback, left back is more difficult to replace than his right.

Substituting a left-back to center-back can certainly be done. But this by eliminating the risk of potential side attack, because not all the center-back has the instinct to break forward.

Meanwhile, draw a defender midfielder would be more dangerous. This was all due to the midfielder has the ability to endure winger. Especially facing inverted right-footed winger (read: How It Works Inverted Winger).

For example, just look at how the difficulties Javier Mascherano in Barcelona for the counter attack from the left, while Jordi Alba was still in front. Alternatively, the death of an attack from the left wing while Daniel Agger Liverpool plotted to replace Jose Enrique. Dane is more often survive keeping his base rather than up to help Stewart Downing or Raheem Sterling on the left.

Right-defense sector generally do not have any difficulty in this regard. Each team has a reserve right-back relative the quality, not far from the core players.

In Europe alone may only Real Madrid club which finished with two quality left-back Marcelo is similar within and Fabio Coentrao. While still relying on Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, Man. City with Gael Clichy, with Alba Barcelona, ​​and Bayern Munich with David Alaba.

Similarly, with Chelsea also still rely on Ashley Cole. So if the price of Gareth Bale or Leighton Baines then sky-high, is not unusual anymore.

So how do I stop the left-kah are often up to help the attack? The first way you can do is put up a defensive winger who directly confront the attacks. One tactic that gave birth to a new generation of wing players such as James Milner fluent last, Park Ji Sung, or Dirk Kuyt. (Read: Genealogy Winger Part 3: Defensive Winger).

While the second, is to use a winger who is fluent dribbling, has a good acceleration, or who often scored. In this way, the fullback will think twice if they want to leave his post unguarded.